MDAS Field Trip — Black Diamond Mines
Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve X45P+PP, Antioch, CA, United StatesBlack Diamond Mines Tuesday, April 12, 8 AM to 1 PM Leader: Hugh Harvey, 925-935-2979 A serious walk up through the Canyon Wren habitat. Other woodland and grassland birds are possible. Tricky footing through the wren's rocky habitat, and no guarantees on finding it. Some spring flowers may still be in bloom. Bring liquids and […]
MDAS Field Trip — Pine Canyon
Diablo Foothills Regional Park Trailhead Parking 1700 Castle Rock Rd, Walnut CreekPine Canyon Tuesday, April 19, 8 AM to 1 PM Leader Tracy Farrington, 925-788-6223 Pine Canyon, which includes the Castle Rock EBRPD recreational area, and the Diablo Foothills Regional Park just beyond, provides rich habitat and resources for spring migrants passing through, as well as for many returning and nesting summer residents. We should expect […]
MDAS Field Trip — Del Puerto Canyon
Del Puerto Canyon Rd & Diablo Grande Pkwy Del Puerto Canyon Rd, Patterson, CA, United StatesDel Puerto Canyon Monday, April 25, 9 AM to 4 PM Leader: Beth Branthaver, 510-502-4869 This is an all day trip requiring an early start to meet at the lower end of Del Puerto Canyon Road near Patterson off I-5. We will drive through the canyon, starting in grasslands, then riparian, chaparral and oak savanna […]
MDAS Field Trip — Mitchell Canyon
Mitchell Canyon 96 Mitchell Canyon Road, Clayton, CA, United StatesMitchell Canyon Thursday, April 28, 8 AM to 1 PM Leader: Sandy Ritchie, 925-685-8048 We will walk into Mitchell Canyon on the lower slopes of Mount Diablo State Park. Many spring birds are possible here, warblers, hummingbirds, flycatchers, gnatcatchers and more. Spring flowers should still be blooming. Rating: Category 3, hot, dusty trail, 3+ miles Elevation […]
MDAS Field Trip — East Contra Costa County
Marsh Creek Regional Trail Trailhead X8R3+9H, Oakley, CA, United StatesEast Contra Costa County Saturday, April 30, 7 AM to 1 PM Leader: Randy Huey, 925-518-8439 This is a trip which often can be very hot by the finish. We will walk part of the Marsh Creek Trail, and then visit Piper Slough north of Bethel Island. Other locations are possible. Target birds include: Blue […]
MDAS/SMD Field Trip—Curry Canyon
Curry Canyon RanchMount Diablo Audubon Society and Save Mount Diablo are partnering up for a hike on Save Mount Diablo's gorgeous Curry Canyon Ranch. This portion of Curry Canyon Ranch showcases beautiful rangeland ecosystems and valley oak and riparian habitat. We'll be looking for spring migrants (Warblers and Western Tanager), Bullock’s Oriole, and possible nesting Warbling and […]
Monthly Program: May 2022
Zoom CA, United StatesMain Program: Soundscapes to Landscapes Dr. Leo Salas and David Leland The earth’s biodiversity and associated ecosystem services are in a severe state of decline due to human pressure, however, our knowledge of these changes and impacts is often incomplete and limited to few and small areas. Join us to learn how Soundscapes to Landscapes […]
MDAS Field Trip — West Briones Regional Park
Bear Creek Staging Area Briones Bear Creek Staging Area, 16 Bear Creek Rd, Lafayette, CA, United StatesWest Briones Regional Park Monday, May 9, 8 AM to 1 PM Leader: Mike Marchiano, 925-372-6328 A visit to the west entrance of Briones Regional Park in the spring offers views of spring wildflowers and spring birds. Lazuli Buntings are usually present, often the first viewings of the year for most of us. Bring water […]
Monthly Program: June 2022
The Camellia Room at The Gardens at Heather Farm 1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek, CA, United StatesBirding Information: Local Birds from MDAS Photo Contests Krista Vossekuil, MDAS Education Chair Krista Vossekuil will share some of the photos from the MDAS Photo Contests! Check out all the amazing entries and enjoy pictures of some of our incredible local birds. Bullock's Orioles, Morgan Territory, photo by Jerry Britten Main Program: Emperors of the Ice: […]
MDAS Field Trip — Outer Point Reyes
Bear Valley Visitor Center 25RX+CV, Inverness, CA, United StatesOuter Point Reyes Saturday, June 4, 8:30 AM to 3 PM Leaders: Hugh Harvey and Beth Branthaver This is a trip to see some spring birds, and visit some of the migrant traps. We will stop at the lighthouse overlook and spend some time above the fish docks. Bring water and lunch. Rating: Category 1 -- […]
MDAS Field Trip — Yuba Pass (2-day outing)
Yuba Pass Yuba Pass, Yuba Pass Road, Calpine, CA, United StatesYuba Pass Saturday-Sunday, June 11-12, 7 AM Saturday to 1 PM Sunday Leaders: Hugh and Rosita Harvey This is always a productive and well-favored weekend trip to the northern Sierra which requires driving and walking, some of it over rough terrain. Saturday we will bird in the Sierra Valley for basin birds. Sunday we will […]
13th Annual Martinez Beaver Festival
Susana Park Estudillo St. & Susana St., Martinez, CACome show your support for urban beavers and visit the Mt. Diablo Audubon Society booth and other favorite nature organizations at the 13th annual Martinez Beaver Festival.
MDAS Field Trip — Bodega Bay
Tides Restaurant Bodega Bay 835Bay Highway, Bodega Bay, CA, United StatesBodega Bay Saturday, August 20, 9 AM to 3 PM Leader: Hugh Harvey, 925-935-2979 The last trip of our field trip calendar, but sometimes considered the first trip for fall birding. At Bodega Bay are flocks of shorebirds including Black Oystercatcher, Wandering Tattler, Marbled Godwit, as well as tern, gulls, cormorants, near-shore pelagics and more. […]
MDAS Field Trip — Jewel Lake
Jewel Lake, Tilden Nature Area, California 600 Canon Dr, Berkeley, CA 94708, Berkeley, CA, United StatesJewel Lake, Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley Thursday September 1, 7:30am - 11:30am A short walk along Wildcat Creek and around Jewel Lake in Tilden Park. Possible highlights include fall warblers, Red-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatch, Pacific Wren, and maybe an early Varied Thrush. Hike Rating: Category 1 - Easy Elevation change: slight Leader: Matt Tarlach, 925-482-6129 […]
Monthly Program: September 2022
Lakeside Room of the Heather Farm Community Center at Heather Farm 301 N. San Carlos Drive, Walnut Creek, CA, United StatesBirding Information: Eagle Scout Nest Box Projects Georgette Howington, Nest box monitor for the California Bluebird Recovery Program Georgette Howington will introduce several Eagle Scouts who completed Nest Box and other projects to help birds and wildlife in our community. Be inspired by their hard work and ingenuity! Main Program: A Gallop Through the Galapagos […]
Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge
Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge 2683+CH, Antioch, CAAntioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge--Docent-led public tour Saturday, September 10, 10 AM to 11 AM MDAS Coordinator: Hugh Harvey Antioch Dunes is the only unit of the National Wildlife Refuge system in Contra Costa County. It was set aside for two plants and a butterfly; Contra Costa Wallflower, Antioch Dunes Evening Primrose and Lang's Metalmark […]
MDAS Field Trip — Vaux’s Swifts at McNear Brickyard
McNear Brickyard 1 McNear Brickyard Rd., San Rafael, CAVaux's Swifts at McNear Brickyard Thursday, September 15, 5 PM to dark Leader: Hugh and Rosita Harvey, 925-935-2979 Every fall when Vaux's Swifts fly to Central and northern South America, they pass through the Bay Area and take advantage of chimneys for evening roosts. Two well-known locations are in Healdsburg and San Rafael. Due to […]
MDAS Field Trip — Frank’s Dump
Hayward Regional Shoreline 3010 W. Winton Ave, Hayward, CA, United StatesHayward Regional Shoreline - Frank's Dump Saturday September 17, 2:30pm - 5:30pm We will meet at the very end of Winton Ave, walk out to the Bay Trail and head north. We should arrive at Frank’s Dump - a major high tide roost for shorebirds - when the tide has been coming in for about 4 […]
MDAS Field Trip — Birding by Bike at Clifton Court Forebay
Clifton Court Forebay Clifton Court Rd., Discovery Bay, CABirding by Bike at Clifton Court Forebay Saturday September 24, 2022, 7:30am-1:30pm Have a bicycle, e-bike or scooter, and like to bird? Join MDAS at Clifton Court Reservoir in eastern Contra Costa County, where we will do an out-and-back biking/birding trip of approximately 10 miles on a flat, paved levee road to see a myriad of bird species. Those who are equipped for it […]
MDAS Field Trip — Outer Point Reyes
Bear Valley Visitor Center 25RX+CV, Inverness, CA, United StatesOuter Point Reyes, Marin coast Saturday October 1, 8:30am - 1pm The Outer Point Reyes area is a wonderful place to find fall migrants, many of them Eastern passerine vagrants. Warblers spotted here have included Blackburnian, Blackpoll, Chestnut-sided, Connecticut, Black-and-white, Magnolia, Prothonotary, Yellow-throated, and Black-throated Blue. We have seen Yellow-green, Red-eyed and White-eyed Vireos, Orchard […]